[center]Triskaidekaphobia - Fear of the number 13, Phobia of the number 13, Number 13 fear, Number 13 phobia.

Triskaidekaphobia is an intense fear of the number 13.
Triskaidekaphobia - from Greek tris=three, kai=and, deka=ten.

Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. The origin of the word Triskaideka is Greek (meaning Number 13) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear). Triskaidekaphobia is considered to be a specific phobia, which is discussed on the home page. Triskaidekaphobia might get confused with Paraskavedekatriaphobia, which is the fear of Friday the 13th.

Here are a few interesting facts about Friday the 13th;

Industrialist Henry Ford wouldn't do business on Friday, the 13th.

* Multimillionaire Paul Getty once stated "I wouldn't care to be one of thirteen at a table."

* President Franklin Delano Roosevelt would not dine in a group of 13 people.

* Many hotel guests refuse to stay in Room 13, so rooms are frequently numbered 12, 12A, and 14.

* Some speculate that a fear of the number 13 is the reason we recognize only 12 constellations in the Zodiac, omitting a thirteenth... Ophiuchus ( the Serpent Holder) that, by its location, could be included.

* The ancient Hebrews thought 13 was unlucky because the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter M, which is the first letter in the word "mavet," meaning death.

* Some believe that 13 is unlucky because it follows 12, which in ancient Babylonia, China, and Rome was considered to be a lucky number associated with completion and perfection.

* Years ago, London bakers were subject to harsh penalties if they were caught selling bread in what was called short weight. The bakers would add an extra loaf to each dozen to be sure the sale met the minimum weight requirement. They avoided the word thirteen and the process of adding an extra loaf became known as the "baker's dozen."

In Kerala (India), The Kerala High Court building has not assigned Number 13 to any of its courtrooms.

Some Christian traditions have it that at the Last Supper, Judas, the disciple who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th to sit at the table[citation needed], and that for this reason 13 is considered to carry a curse of sorts.

In the US and Canada, many tall buildings do not have a floor numbered 13.

It has been estimated by various sources that U.S. businesses lose millions of dollars because of canceled appointments, absenteeism, etc. on Friday, the 13th.[/center]